I lunged Ace tacked up with the blanket on and he was fine. He seems to be bending both his hocks and his knees better than he ever has. I got on and he stood quiet and he was absolutely fine at walk. I asked for trot and he kicked out and set his back. I asked again and sent him on very positively, and he trotted off with no problems, with a loose back and never did it again. He cantered easily and very well indeed.
As well as the tack, the difference was that I rode this afternoon instead of in the morning. It was just as cold, but on Friday night they were in the barn overnight so that Radar would be dry to clean up to hunt. Today he had been out all day and night, whenever they chose.
I'm not sure I'm any further forwards in knowing what is wrong, but if rugging and lunging is the cure for the symptoms then I would not have him treated anyway, so perhaps that's the answer for now.
Radar is very happy and well after yesterday and I am doing re-runs of that holly hedge. It really was quite a size, probably the biggest thing we have jumped so far this year by some margin.
Woody did 5 minutes on the lunge and was a tiny bit stiff on the left fore on the left rein and absolutely wonderful on the right rein. He was also super on the left rein if I encouraged him to go forward a bit more, so I'm very happy about how he is progressing. His front stride length has increased markedly so that it almost matches the back, and as a result he is already producing some suspension in his trot. He's going to have some very tidy paces :-) ! My plan for him is a month of alternate days of a few minutes lunging and increasing lengths of hacking.
C
Ace sounds so "Tucker." I know exactly that reaction when I first put my leg on. I have no idea what it's all about, because if I insist in the next moment, he goes off just fine. What I don't like about the initial resistance is the feeling that he may buck--hate that. I do find that if I do a relatively long walking warm up with lots of suppling, he is usually much less likely to get "nasty."
ReplyDeleteThe lungeing and blanket may well help Ace warm up everything on his own without your "interference." Hope it keeps on working.
Good news about Woody's progress again. I'm kind of excited to think about his potential. He sounds like such a fun boy.
I hold my breath every time I think about that huge hedge. Did they get any pictures there? That would be sooo cool, but as is often the case, what're the odds the photographer was there?
No photographer at that hedge Jean, but this may amuse you. I am right behind the cameraman most of the time.
ReplyDeleteC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7MX8grM5HA&feature=share
ReplyDeleteWell, that was some ride! A bit disorienting with the master looking around so much, but I surely did get to see the scenery! The countryside is beautiful and the day seemed glorious! Thanks for the ride.
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